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President Macron said the threat from clandestine Russian operations “calls for a co-ordinated, determined response from the EU and its member states”OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA

The United States and up to 20 European countries are preparing to expel Russian diplomats linked to Moscow espionage networks.

The unprecedented co-ordinated action will begin on Monday with the recall of the European Union’s ambassador to Moscow for four weeks.

President Trump’s National Security Council recommended last night that a yet-to-be determined number of Russian diplomats be expelled from the US in response to the Salisbury attack. Mr Trump is expected to take a final decision next week.

During four hours of talks on Thursday night, Theresa May rallied France, Germany, Lithuania and Ireland behind a robust response designed to damage a web of Russian operations identified by British intelligence.

“We have been throughout sharing on intelligence channels what we can share with our…